Results from a survey conducted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) found that 82% of people in Luxembourg now feel the effects of climate change in their daily lives. Climate change is now the number one challenge facing the country, say 55% of respondents. This is much higher than the EU average (41%) and is a shift from last year. In 2021, the top challenge was considered to be covid-19.
Read also
In addition, most people in Luxembourg (64%) believe that Russia’s war in Ukraine and the resulting consequences on the price of fossil fuels should encourage the acceleration of the switch to renewable energies. 41% of respondents expect the government to prioritise the development of renewable energies, followed by a focus on energy diversification to avoid being too dependent on a single provider (35%).
In an , Luxembourg’s energy minister (déi Gréng) mentioned that one of the lessons that should be learned from the current situation is that “in no area of our economy should we be more than 25% dependent on one supplier.”
However, the notes that Luxembourg’s energy system depends heavily on imports of fossil fuels. In 2018, 95% of its energy supply was imported, including renewable energy. Only 7.5% of Luxembourg’s total primary energy supply came from renewables in 2018. The grand duchy’s national energy and climate plan includes a 23-25% target of renewable energy by 2030.
“Ahead of the COP27 climate conference, the results of the EIB 2022 Climate Survey show that people in Luxembourg believe that accelerating renewable energy and energy efficiency measures should be the priority to fight the global energy and climate crisis,” stated EIB vice-president Kris Peeters.
Ready to turn down the heating to fight climate change?
The survey also found that 29% of survey respondents in Luxembourg would accept capping their heating at 19°C. This is similar to the EU average (28%) and to the figure in Germany (27%), but is far below the figure for French respondents--47% of people in France would accept capping their heating at 19°C.
According to the European Commission, the in homes in the EU is over 22°C. Lowering the temperature at home by 1°C would save approximately 7% of the energy used for heating.